Latch mechanism for sliding doors

ABSTRACT

A LATCH MECHANISM FOR A SLIDING DOOR IN WHICH A LATCH HOO, MOUNTED ON THE DOOR STILE, IS CAUSED TO PIVOT ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS TO ENGAGE A CONTINUOUS VERTICAL FLANGE MOUNTED ON THE DOORJAMB. A VERTICALLY, LINERALY SLIDABLE, ELONGATED SHUTTLE, MOUNTED ON THE DOOR STILE,   INCLUDES A CAM MEMBER WHICH OPENS OR CLOSES THE LATCH HOOK WHEN THE SHUTTLE IS ELEVATED OR DEPRESSED.

Feb. 16, 1971 R. N. DUSHANE, JR 3,553,063

. LATCH MECHANISM FOR SLIDING DOOR3 Filed on. 21, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- RAYMOND N. DUSHANE, JR.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1971 R. N. DUSHANE, JR 3,563,063

LATCH MECHANISM FOR SLIDING DOORS Filed Oct. 21'. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Irv 7" l2 j' a INVENTOR. RAYMOND N. DUSHANE, JR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,563,068 LATCH MECHANISM FOR SLIDING DOORS Raymond N. Dushane, Jr., Fullerton, Calif., assignor to H & D, Inc., Everett, Wash., a corporation Filed Oct. 21, 1968, Ser. No. 769,249 Int. Cl. E05b 65/08; E05c 19/12 U.S. Cl. 70-100 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A latch mechanism for a sliding door in which a latch hook, mounted on the door stile, is caused to pivot about a vertical axis to engage a continuous vertical flange mounted on the doorjamb. A vertically, linearly slideable, elongated shuttle, mounted on the door stile, includes a cam member which opens or closes the latch hook when the shuttle is elevated or depressed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention The present invention relates to a latch mechanism for sliding doors and, more particularly, to a non-jamming, surface mounted, push latch mechanism for securing sliding doors.

(2) Description of the prior art Many types of latch mechanisms which are suitable for use in securing sliding doors are presently available. By far the large majority of these mechanisms include a hook mounted in the door stile which is operative to pivot around a horizontal axis and engage a horizontally-disposed keeper mounted on the doorjamb. Although operative, such latch mechanisms have several serious disadvantages which greatly impair their usefulness.

One such disadvantage is their lack of security in that the door is easily jimmied by elevation thereof relative to the keeper on the doorjamb to free the before-mentioned hook. Another serious limitation, arising from the fact that the latch hook pivots about a horizontal axis, is that the vertical alignment of the latchhook and keeper is critical and must 'be carefully adjusted in order for the latch mechanism to operate properly. As a result, installation of such latch mechanisms is generally a timeconsuming procedure.

Still another serious disadvantage common to practically all existing sliding door latch mechanisms is the fact that the mechanism is mounted in the door stile. As a result, the assembly of these latch mechanisms is generally a difiicult and complicated process. Either a special door stile must be designed for the particular type of latch mechanism employed, or an existing door stile must be modified to accept the latch mechanism. Such modification generally requires the cutting of various sizes and shapes of openings in the door stile and the attachment of rather elaborate mechanisms.

A further disadvantage of prior art sliding door latch mechanisms is that they are generally not reversible, i.e., they do not lend themselves to use with both right and lefthanded doors without modification.

Finally, regardless of the type of mechanism used in the past and whether or not it has been mounted in the door stile, substantially all prior art latch mechanisms have been complicated with many movable parts. As a result, such mechanisms are generally very costly both at the time of original purchase and when it is necessary for adjustment or repair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a latch mechanism for sliding doors which substantially overcomes the problems mentioned above. The present latch mechanism replaces the horizontally pivotable latch hooks of the prior art with a latch hook which pivots about a vertical axis and engages a continuous, vertically-disposed flangemounted on the doorjamb, Since the vertical flange is continuous, the lock is secure and the door cannot be opened by jiggling it up and down. Furthermore, the problem of aligning the latch hook and the keeper on the door jamb is completely eliminated.

The present latch mechanism is entirely surface mounted so that it can be used with any type of existing lock stile and no complicated modifications of such lock stiles need be made. The present latch mechanism has a minimum number of moving parts, is simple and trouble-free, and low in cost. Finally, the present latch mechanism is completely reversible and can be used with both right and lefthand doors without modification.

Briefly, the present invention consists of a handle comprising a generally U-shaped channel in which is mounted a vertically, linearly slideable shuttle. The shuttle includes a wedge-shaped cam member which engages a latch hook mounted in the channel so that vertical movement of the shuttle causes pivotal motion of the latch hook about a vertical axis. The latch hook is adapted to engage a keeper mounted on the doorjamb, which keeper includes a continuous vertical flange.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a novel latch mechanism for sliding doors.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a latch mechanism for sliding doors comprising a latch hook which pivots about a vertical axis.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a latch mechanism for sliding doors which is completely surface mounted and which requires substantially no modification of existing door stiles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a latch mechanism for sliding doors which is completely reversible.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive latch mechanism for sliding doors which has a minimum number of parts and which is easily assembled.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a latch mechanism for sliding doors which includes a vertically-pivotal latch hook which is operated by a simple, push-button mechanism.

Still other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment constructed in accordance therewith, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts in the several figures and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the present latch mechanism as seen from the: inside and outside of the door, respectively;

FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the present latch mechanism showing the various parts thereof;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation view, partly in section, of the latch mechanism: of FIGS. 13 showing the relationship between the latch hook and shuttle with the latch in the open position;

FIG. is a view taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 but showing the latch in the closed position; and

FIG. 7 is a view taken along lines 77 in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 'Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, the present latch mechanism is adapted to be surface mounted on any type of door stile 1, which forms the leading edge of a sliding door 2. The present latch mechanism includes first and second handles 3 and 4 adapted to be surface mounted on opposite sides of door stile =1. Handles 3 and 4, which are substantially identical, comprise generally U-shaped channels 5 and 6, respectively, the outside edges of which are adapted to be in contact with door stile 1. Channels 5 and 6 contain the operating mechanism of the present latch. Handles 3 and 4 further comprise vertically disposed extensions 7 and 8, respectively, which are mounted on the outer edges of handles 3 and 4, respectively, extensions 7 and 8 being the portions of handles 3 and 4 which are adapted to be grasped by the user to slide door 2.

Handle 3, which is mounted on the inside of door stile 1, further comprises a latch hook slot 9 in one Wall of channel 5 through which extends a latch hook 10. A spring 11 connected to latch hook 141 is operative to bias latch hook in the open position, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Latch hook 10 is manipulated from the open to the closed position and vice versa through operation of a shuttle 12 which is operative to be linearly slideable in a vertical direction within channel 5 of handle 3. As shown in FIG. 1, in the open position, shuttle 12 extends from the top of handle 3. To close the latch mechanism, shuttle 12 is depressed until the top surface thereof is aligned with the top surface of handle 3. In this position, the bottom end of shuttle 12 extends beyond the bottom of handle 3.

Handle 4, which is mounted on the outside of door 2, is similar to handle 3 with the exception of the elimination of latch hook slot 9. Furthermore, if handle 4 is to be provided with a key-actuated lock so that the latch mechanism may be opened and closed from the outside of door 2, handle 4 includes a generally circular opening 13 in which is positioned a cylinder collar 14 and a cylinder 15 of the standard type for use with sliding door latches. Cylinder collar 14 and cylinder 15 are held in position by a cylinder retainer '16 and a pair of screws 17. Cylinder '15 includes a cylinder tongue 18 which extends through lock stile 1 and is inserted within a cam member 19. Cam member 19 includes a lip 20 which is positioned within a generally rectangular opening 21 in shuttle 12 so that rotation of cylinder tongue 18 turns lip 20 either upwardly to elevate shutle 12 to open the door latch or downwardly to depress shuttle 12 to lock the door. Finally, since channel 6 of handle 4 does not include a shuttle, a pair of end plugs 22 and 23 are provided to seal the upper and lower ends, respectively, of channel 6.

The present latch mechanism can be installed on any type of door stile 1 by simply drilling first and second holes 24 and 25 therethrough. Furthermore, in the event that a cylinder lock is provided for the outside of door 2, a third hole 2 6 must be drilled for cylinder tongue 18. With these holes in place, assembly is as follows. The opposite ends of latch hook spring 11 are first positioned into holes 27 and 28 in latch hook 10 as shown in FIG. 3. While holding these members together, lip 10' of latch hook 210 is inserted through latch hook slot 9 in handle 3.

Shuttle 12 is then positioned in channel 5 with the words push lock in the up position. Cam 19 is then positioned through hole 21 in shuttle 12 and into a hole 29 in handle 3. A pair of screws 30 and 31 are then extended through a pair of holes 32 and 33 in handle 3. Screws 30 and 31 extend through a pair of holes 34 and 35 in shuttle 12 and through holes 24 and 25 in stile 1. It should be noted that holes 34 and 35 in shuttle 12 are elongated so that shuttle 12 may slide relative to screws 30 and 31.

After cylinder collar 14, cylinder 15 and retainer 16 are positioned on handle 4, end plugs 22 and 23 are inserted in channel 6 and a pair of female rivets 36 and 37 are extended through a pair of holes 3 8 and 39, respectively, in handle 4. Thereafter, screws 30 and 31 are tightened into rivets 36 and 37, respectively, securing the entire assembly to stile 1.

A pair of grooves 50 and 51 may be positioned in extensions 7 of handle :3 to receive a cover plate 52 for decorative purposes. Cover plate 52 may include a pair of tabs 53 and 54 which may be bent over channel 5 to secure plate 52 on handle 3. A similar arrangement may be provided for handle 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 47, the operation of the present latch mechanism may best be understood. FIGS. 4 and 5 show the latch mechanism in the open position whereas FIGS. 6 and 7 show the latch mechanism in the closed position. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the present latch mechanism is designed for use with a keeper 40 attached to a doorjamb 41, keeper 40 including a generally U-shaped channel 42 adapted to receive door stile 1 and to prevent door stile 1 from being rocked back and forth in a horizontal direction. For this purpose, lock stile 1 may further include a channel 43 adapted to receive a felt strip so that lock stile 1 makes tight contact within channel 42. Mounted along one edge of channel 42 is a vertical flange 44 which is adapted to engage lip 10 of latch hook 10 as shown in FIG. 7 to prevent door 2 from being opened when the latch is in the closed position.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 7, latch hook 10 is a substantially fiat member having a lip 10 at one end thereof and generally rounded edges at the other end 10" thereof for reasons which will appear more fully hereinafter. Furthermore, spring 11 is adapted to urge latch hook 10 into the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIGS. 47, shuttle 12 includes a cam element 45 which is a generally wedge-shaped member positioned intermediate the opposite ends of shuttle 12. When shuttle 12 is in the open or raised position, the narrow end of cam 45 is in contact with rounded end 10 of latch hook 10. When it is desired to close the present latch mechanism, shuttle 12 is depressed until the top surface thereof is aligned with the top end of handle 3, as shown in FIG. 6. When this occurs, cam 45 forces rounded end '10" of latch hook 10 toward the wall of channel 5, thereby pivoting latch hook 10 around latch hook slot 9 into the position shown in FIG. 7. In this position, hook 10' engages vertical flange 44 of keeper 40 preventing slideable motion of door 2. In this position, and as shown in FIG. 6, the bottom of shuttle 12 extends beyond the bottom of handle 3 thereby signalling the locked condition of the latch mechanism. Thereafter, when it is desired to unlock door 2, shuttle 12 is elevated by pushing on the bottom end thereof until the bottom end is aligned with the bottom of handle 3.

It can, therefore, be seen that in accordance with the present invention there is provided a simple, low-cost latch mechanism which has a minimum number of parts and which is easily assembled. Latch hook 10 is plvotable about a vertical axis to engage a continuous vertical flange 44 so as to completely eliminate the problem of vertical alignment of hook and keeper and to make a door which is secure. The present latch mechanism is entirely surface mounted and can be positioned on any type of lock stile simply by drilling two or more h' les therein, thereby elerninating the complex modifications of existing lock stiles characteristic of prior art latch mechanisms. Other advantages are that the present latch mechanism is completely reversible and can be used with either right or lefthanded doors. The present vertically, linearly slideable shuttle takes up a minimum amount of space as well as indicating the locked condition by which end thereof extends beyond the handle.

While the invention has been described with respect to a preferred physical embodiment constructed in accordance therewith, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope and sprit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative embodiment, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A latch mechanism for a sliding door comprising:

a vertically disposed flange mounted on the door jamb;

a latch hook mounted on the door stile, said latch hook being pivotable about a vertical axis between a closed position in engagement with said flange to prevent slideable motion of said door and an open position; and,

a vertically disposed, elongated shuttle mounted on said door stile, said shuttle being linearly slideable in a vertical direction between first and second positions, said shuttle including means for engaging said latch hook to cause said hook to pivot between said closed and open positions as said shuttle slides between said first and second positions.

2. A latch mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said vertically disposed flange is continuous and extends along substantially the entire length of said doorjamb.

3. A latch mechanism according to claim 1 further comprising:

a first Ushaped channel mounted on the inside surface of said door stile, said shuttle being linearly slideable within said channel, said channel having an elongated slot in one side thereof, said latch hook extending through said slot.

4. A latch mechanism according to claim 3 further comprising:

a spring connected to said latch hook to bias said hook in said open position.

5. A latch mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said latch hook comprises:

a substantially flat member having a lip at one end thereof and generally rounded edges at the other end, said one end of said latch hook extending through said slot in said channel whereby said lip engages said flange in said closed position.

6. A latch mechanism according to claim 5 further comprising:

a spring connected to said other end of said latch hook to bias said hook in said open position.

7. A latch mechanism according to claim 6 wherein said means for engaging said latch hook comprises:

a cam element mounted on said shuttle intermediate the opposite ends thereof, said cam element contacting said other end of said latch hook and forcing said other end in a horizontal direction as said shuttle slides from said first to said second position whereby said latch hook pivots about said slot in said channel.

8. A latch mechanism according to claim 7 wherein said cam element comprises:

a vertically positioned wedge, one side of which is connected to said shuttle.

9. A latch mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said latch hook is pivotable about said slot.

10. A latch mechanism according to claim 3 further comprising:

a second U-shaped channel mounted on the outside surface of said door stile and forming a handle to slide said door; and

at least one screw extending through said first and second channels and said door stile for securing said channels to said stile.

11. A latch mechanism according to claim 10 wherein said shuttle includes an opening intermediate the opposite ends thereof and further comprising:

a cam member supported between said lock stile and said first channel and extending through said opening in said shutle, said cam member sliding said shuttle between said first and second positions upon rotation thereof; and

key-actuated means mounted in said second channel and connected to said cam member for permitting rotation of said cam member whereby said latch mechanism may be opened and closed from the outside of said door.

12. A latch mechanism for a sliding door adapted for use with a keeper mounted on the doorjamb, said keeper including a continuous vertical flange, comprising:

a latch hook having a lip at one end thereof adapted to be mounted on the door stile, said latch hook being pivotable about a vertical axis between a closed position with said lip in engagement with said flange to prevent slideable motion of said door and an open position; and

a vertically disposed, elongated shuttle mounted on said door stile, said shuttle being linearly slideable in a vertical direction between first and second positions, said shuttle including means for engaging said latch hook to cause said hook to pivot between said closed and open positions as said shuttle slides between said first and second positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner L. J. MCCARTHY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 292-98, 129 

